Preparing for Tonka

The visit with Tonka (Ben) on Sunday went extremely well. He is showing more trust, and looking to me more often for direction and guidance. He’s getting much better and responding more quickly on recall, and he’s learning not to pull on the leash while walking. The pulling is only a minor issue right now, but it does need to be addressed. So, when he pulls, I immediately stop moving. He gets excited and he wants very much to explore whatever has caught his interest, but he has to learn that in order to get what he wants, he needs to learn patience. Of course, he’s still young – only 15 months. He just needs time, patience, and consistency to figure it all out.

I missed seeing Tonka yesterday, as I was sick with a tummy bug. I’m hoping to see him today. I’m planning to take my dog with me to start the introduction process between the two. I’ve been told that Tonka is good with other dogs, but years of experience have taught me to listen to and watch the dogs, because they always give us what actually is. Having said that, I do anticipate that the introduction will be positive and happy for both dogs. 🙂

From a personal standpoint, I am very excited to be bringing Tonka into our home and into our lives. There’s just something about him… He’s a very special dog….